Dr. Increase Mathews

The Colony of Massachusetts records in 1600s show the family name as Mathews. New Braintree records show Increase Mathews, Daniel Mathews, his father, and back more generations. A rare occurrence is Mathis. Most colonists were literate.

National Society Daughters of the American Revolution lumps various spellings under Matthews, such as Mathews, Mathis, Matthews. ollowing 1930s government standardizing projects. Patriots still have individual correct spellings. NSDAR requires descendants produce paper proofs for years, and place name at the time of the proof for each generation back to the patriot. Published genealogy is not acceptable proof.

place name changes, locations is the same

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The 1808 and 1809 Ohio Census show Increase living in Washington County, Ohio.

1820 Newton Township, Washington Co, OH 1840 Putnam, Muskingum Co, OH 1850 Springfield, Muskingum Co. OH

Increase Mathews first married Nabby Willis, Oakham, Worcester Co, MA, 8 Apr 1799

              see familysearch.org - a free service

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Excerpts of diary published 1932 by New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston MA, see americanancestors.org

According to a footnote (source unattributed, but probably Willis Adams Bailey, born 1870 Ohio, deceased 1933, Zanesville OH) in the Matthews Family Record included in "Diary of a Journey from Massachusetts to the Ohio Country, 1798", by Dr. Increase Mathews, at some point around 1815, Increase decided to drop one 't' from his surname. The reason given is that Increase's older brother John had omitted the 't', apparently in early life, and that some years after he settled in Ohio, Increase adopted the spelling of his brother.

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    The Pioneer & Historical Society of Muskingum County operates a museum in the "Increase Mathews" house.  See

                            www.muskingumhistory.org/Dr_Increase_Mathews_House

     Also see   www.eg.bucknell.edu/~hyde/jackson/reunion2008-PutnamHistoric.html

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Dr Increase Mathews is mentioned in a number of stories have been published over the years. You can find several by doing an Internet search for "Increase Mathews" or "Increase Matthews".

Here are some links and exerpts of such stories:

http://www.heritagepursuit.com/Muskingum/Muskingum1882-66CIV.htm

Excerpt from "The Leavens Name: The Ohio People", pg 126:

"Increase Mathews was a nephew of Gen. Rufus Putnam, who was leader of the first band of pioneers and superintendent of the settlement in the North West Territory. Born Dec. 22, 1772, and reared in New Braintree, Mass., he studied medicine under Dr. Spencer field of Oakham and received his certificate of proficiency Jan. 7, 1799. He visited Marietta O., in 1798. In 1801 he settled in Zanesville, locating the next year in the newly surveyed section then called Putnam, where he spent his days. He married Betsy Leavens at the home of her sister Fanny, wife of Major Lincoln.

    At a somewhat early age Dr. Mathews retired from practice and devoted himself to agricultural and other interests.  As an indication of his enterprise it may be noted that he first, at great pains, introduced the breed of Merino sheep in Ohio.  He established the first drug store in Zanesville.  Bringing his credentials from the Congregational Church of New Braintree, dated Aug. 27, 1800, he on one of the five original members of the first Church organized in Muskingum County."

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History of Ohio: Vol III pg 302

    "Dr. Increase Mathews was born at New Braintree, Masschusetts, December 22, 1772, a nephew of Gen. Rufus Putnam.  In 1789 he rode horseback to Marietta, Ohio, the scene of the first permanent white settlement in Ohio, in which Gen. Rufus Putnam had been a conspicuous figure.  In 1801 Dr. Increase Mathews came to Zanesville by boat on the Muskingum River, and he and his brother established the first store here.  He was a pioneer physician in the community, and was one of the first doctors in Ohio to use vaccine.  His wife, who died June 14, 1802, was the first burial in the new town in Zanesville.  He was the owner of a large amount of land in Muskingum County, and was a grower of Merino sheep.  He laid out Springfield, which was later known as Putnam and now part of the City of Zanesville.  He donated the Putnam Hill Park to Putnam Village.  His house still standing at Putnam, in one of the oldest in this part of Ohio."